Who do you guys think will win the Aussie Open????

WELL......my guess is Andy Roddick and Maria Sharapova

Pity Lleyton Hewitt is out...hopefully another aussie may win...also i wouldnt mind if Martina Hingis won...she was one of my favourties a few years ago when she was in her prime she may still have a chance

I predict that I will know who will win the open at about midnight next Sunday (29/1)



Seriously..my predictions are Federer and Sharapova

Quoted from BSquared

..my predictions are Federer and Sharapova

I'll go with the same.

Roddick is out

I hope Feddera gets in the final as well as that Cyprus guy. I want that cyprus guy to beat him.

Anna

I am happy Roger Federer is in the Finals playing against Marcos Baghdatis.
This report today....
By Richard Hinds
January 28, 2006
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FOR once, the hugely entertaining and eminently likeable Roger Federer will not be the sentimental favourite.

But, more significantly, he will be the obvious selection when he takes on the game's new pin-up boy, Marcos Baghdatis, in tomorrow night's unexpected, but eagerly anticipated, Australian Open final.

On what has been an unusually bumpy ride to a seventh grand slam final, Federer has not always met the lofty aesthetic standards demanded by those who believe white smoke rose from the ATP headquarters in Ponte Vedra, Florida, the day he took the No.1 ranking. Pushed to five sets by Tommy Haas and four by Nikolay Davydenko, he had not been immaculate.

However, although Federer again dropped a set in last night's 6-3, 5-7, 6-0 6-2 semi-final victory over German Nicolas Kiefer, for significant parts of the match it was apparent why Federer is more often compared to retired tennis legends than anyone he encounters across the net.

Rod Laver, one of the select group of greats to whom Federer is now compared, watched from the front row as the Swiss wore down the 25th-ranked German with a display that included enough moments of graceful precision and controlled power to suggest he has found his game at the right time. "It was a fantastic match and I really turned it up when I had to," he said.

Federer's performance should remind the surprise packet Baghdatis of the tough task he faces tomorrow - although reports will reach the Cypriot second-hand. "No, no, no," Baghdatis replied when asked if he been observing Federer's progress. "Don't like watching tennis."

Baghdatis has some personal experience to go by, anyway. He has lost his only three matches against Federer - two of those in grand slams, last year's Australian and US Opens. "I've played him second round, third round, quarters," said Baghdatis. "Now it's the final. So every day is different. I just go into the match and play my game, just try not to make a lot of mistakes, just try to make him play. I'll try to find a solution in the match." Kiefer, who had entered last night's semi-final on a six-match losing streak against Federer, had no solution. Having already been fined $8000 here for an array of audible outbursts, he fumed over a number of close line calls and looked set to burst when Federer sent back some of his best shots with interest.

But, unlike the performances that had taken the German to his first grand slam semi-final, most of the grunt came from his mouth rather than his racquet.

I can't believe sports journalists and some fans believe Federer's route to the final was a "bumpy" one. It wasn't until the fourth round that he actually lost a set and in my opinion the matches between that brat Haas and Kiefer weren't as hard for him as people make it out to be. In both games he seemed to lose his grip when he was experimenting with drop shots and angled volleys. When he had enough endurence practice he simply shut them down in the final sets of both matches with ease.

Federer is solid as the rock of Gibraltar and much as I like the guy, I hope Baghdatis can win.

The match against keifer was a breeze but haas had him in a little trouble. Davydenko was the one who came closest to knocking him out but choked.
Im very happy mauresmo won and think fed will make marcos look average.

Shame the women's final ended like it did...bit of a hollow victory for Mauresmo (who was playing well and would have won anyway but it's horrid to win like that).

My head says Federer will win tonight but my heart says "go Baghdatis"

Yeah i actually felt quite bad for justine who i don't generally like unless she's playing sharapova or the williams sisters. but it was worth it to see mauresmo finally win a slam.

Roger Wins Final in Australian Open
By Leo Schlink
January 30, 2006

EMOTIONAL ROGER Federer last night swept to the bravest victory of his glittering career, claiming a second Australian Open title despite a swollen right ankle and the dogged resistance of Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis.
Federer forged his seventh major success with a runaway 5-7 7-5 6-0 6-2 triumph against 54th-ranked Baghdatis, who threatened to upstage the world champion with a blinding start.

But the Swiss master shrugged off a double handicap to climb higher into the constellation of tennis luminaries, moving past Boris Becker, Don Budge, Jack Crawford, Laurie Doherty and Tony Wilding, who all won six grand slams.

Unable to move with his usual freedom, Federer blew the contest apart late in the second set, winning 11 games on end to bludgeon Baghdatis into submission.

"What can I say?" he said.

"I don't know what to say.

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"I would like to congratulate Marcos first, well done. I hope you (Baghdatis) know how much this means to me.

"I guess it's all emotion coming out now, God. I've had some hard speeches but it's a little rough right now."

Baghdatis, 20, accepted defeat with familiar dignity.

"It's like a dream," he said.

"It's fantastic.

"It's a dream come true.

"I'm in the final, I played the final, I lost. It's just amazing."

Visions of a massive upset had drifted across Rod Laver Arena for much of the first 90 minutes until Federer clinically found a way to snuff out the ambitions of the sport's brightest new star.

Good sports ... Roger Federer and Marcos Baghdatis last night.

For all those people who say sports people should be role models (which I don't agree with) look no further than these two blokes...great skill, great heart, great sportsmanship...very satisfying all round  

Did anyone see the Monfils vs Baghdatis match?   I saw highlights and the former is incredibly flexible.

Yep I watched all of it. I really hope Monfils goes all the way.... yeh and his flexibility is amazing